Report: Stockport 0-0 Bolton

Bolton Wanderers were held to a goalless draw in their penultimate pre-season encounter against Stockport County at Edgeley Park.

The visitors squandered a number of chances in the second-half as manager Phil Parkinson named an experimental looking line-up.

Alex Perry played as a centre back alongside two trialists whilst loanee Adam Armstrong played up top on his own supported by a midfield comprising Sammy Ameobi, Jeff King, Derik and Darren Pratley. Mark Little and Chris Taylor played in the wing back positions while Ben Alnwick was in goal.

With four other trialists, the bench had a youthful feel to it, with Cole Lonsdale, Jack Earing, Ryan White and Connor Hall among the substitutes.

Ameobi almost embarrassed Ormson in the County goal when his low drive wasn’t sufficiently gathered by the home keeper. He recovered to spare his own blushes as the ball fell awkwardly in between his feet.

Wanderers were enjoying plenty of possession during the opening exchanges and moved the ball around sweetly with some slick passing in midfield.

Thomas had County’s first effort but his strike from distance sailed over Alnwick’s cross bar. He was later replaced by Dan Cowan after picking up a knock.

Alnwick had his first touch of the ball after 25 minutes when Walker’s free-kick was hit straight into the Wanderers gloveman’s hands.

Hall’s header at the near post off Walker’s corner went narrowly wide to cause a moment’s worry for the Wanderers defenders.

For all Wanderers’ fluidity in the middle of the park and possession, they seldom troubled Ormson.

The keeper’s first real test came off Armstrong who almost caught him off guard with a chipped effort from distance.

Ameobi followed this up moments later with a good probing run only to see his firm strike deflect for a corner.

The visitors should have opened the scoring after King put through Armstrong with a delighted ball. The on-loan forward charged down on goal but his effort lacked the power to trouble Ormson who took hold of the ball at the second attempt after a deflection.

Parkinson made Wanderers’ first change on 60 mins with Connor Hall coming on for Armstrong.

King headed wide after latching onto an Alex Bruce cross from the right-hand side. The impressive midfielder should have put his side in front with such a gilt-edged chance.

Seconds later and Ameobi saw his strike shave the foot of the post before going wide.

Wanderers were stepping up as an attacking force and a goal to break the deadlock seemed inevitable.

Wanderers made further changes with Earing and White replacing Ameobi and Derik,

Ormson made another routine save to keep out White’s drive from distance while King’s 18-yard free-kick glanced the County cross bar.

In the dying stages, Wanderers had the ball in the back of the net after King bundled it in but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Wanderers’ final workout of the season will see them take on Stoke City at Macron Stadium on Saturday.